Residency Requirement

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee requires all first-time freshmen to live in University Housing residence halls, where availability allows.

The specific policy states:

“Those freshman who are not veterans, married or living with parents or guardian shall be required to live in a University operated Residence Hall when such accommodations are available.”

Ample research across the United States over the last 30 years has provided compelling evidence that students who live in university-provided housing perform better academically, and enjoy a higher degree of satisfaction with their college experience, than students who live off-campus or commute.

Specifically, the UWM residency policy applies to students who are first-time freshmen AND are 20 years of age or younger as of September 1 at the beginning of the academic year in question.

The following students are eligible to request an exemption from the residency requirement: those living with parents or guardians, those who are 21 years of age or older (as of 9/1), veterans, students who are married or who have an affidavit of domestic partnership, or those student who are themselves parents.